Posted by ed_uk on May 8, 2006, at 12:56:19
In reply to MAOI's and Migraine Medications-Big Help Needed, posted by Donna Louise on May 8, 2006, at 6:25:43
Hi
Here is some useful information by Stewart J. Tepper, MD...........
Triptans and MAOIs
The enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO) breaks down some or all of four triptans: almotriptan (Axert), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), and zolmitriptan (Zomig). At the same time, some antidepressants can be used as anti-migraine drugs and work by inhibiting MAO (MAOIs). These MAOI antidepressants include isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (Parnate). If you are taking one of these drugs, it inhibits the very enzyme your body needs to break down certain triptans.
As a result, the FDA recommends not using three triptans with MAOIs: rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), and zolmitriptan (Zomig). Instead, it seems prudent to use triptans that are not broken down by MAO: eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), and naratriptan (Amerge). Another option is almotriptan (Axert). Because almotriptan can be eliminated in several ways, its interaction with an MAOI is not of consequence.
Ed
poster:ed_uk
thread:641231
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060504/msgs/641371.html